Chinese tech firm to train 100 engineering students

While growing up in a Nairobi suburb, Wendy Akola’s dalliance with gadgets baffled family and friends. It was soon clear that this fascination would form the foundation of her future career: technology was her friend.

Now, the 24-year-old telecommunications and information engineering graduate from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) is making her mark in a male-dominated sector.

Ms Akola is among 10 young techies who last month flew to China for training in a Huawei-sponsored internship programme.

“In Kenya, we are not doing very well in encouraging women to take up engineering as a profession,” she said.

“In China, I have seen several women in technology. With this programme, I believe we are moving in the right direction.”

Huawei’s Seeds of the Future Programme sent her and three other women, as well as six men, to build up their technology skills.

Flagship projects

Akola got the opportunity after enrolling in a two-month internship at Huawei’s offices in Nairobi. After it, she got to work on the company’s flagship projects in Kenya, and for the good job she did, she was recommended to go on a two-week visit to China.

Kim Rodgers, a fifth-year electrical and electronics engineering student at JKUAT, also flew to China for the training.

“In March this year, I was attached at Huawei offices, after which I was selected to join this team in China,” he said, speaking at Huawei University.

“I have seen and learned what I wouldn’t in Nairobi. I can’t wait to apply this knowledge in Kenya.”

For instance, Mr Rodgers said, while Kenya is yet to implement third generation, or 3G, broadband technology in many parts of the country, Huawei was developing 5G technology in China, which would allow people to download movies in about a second, and will be rolled out commercially in three-to-four years’ time.

In China, the students spent the first week studying Chinese language and culture in Beijing. They also visited the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China.

“It’s important you understand who you’re working with,” Akola said.

In the second week, they moved to ShenZhen City, where Huawei is headquartered, for technical training. The students, who are drawn from different local universities, were taught by IT specialists at the Huawei University.

Last year, nine students benefited from a similar arrangement. By the end of the year, Huawei would have trained 40 Kenyan engineers.

The initiative, spearheaded by the ICT Authority and Huawei Technologies Kenya, plans to train 100 engineers over the next three years to increase the number of skilled workers in the ICT sector.

“Huawei is helping us build capacity to support the massive investments that the Government is making in the ICT sector,” said Eunice Kariuki, the director for partnerships, innovation and capacity at ICT Authority.

The technology firm picks 20 students to join its internship programme, from where the best 10 are picked for further training at Huawei University.